It’s a holiday week for many in the corporate environment, and it’s a nerve-wracking week for many in the NFL. The regular season ended Sunday and that means it’s Black Monday across the league. As of this writing 3 coaches have been fired and there is speculation that more pink slips are on the way. It’s part of the NFL season and will keep fans talking for a while.

As for other topics making news, the NFL playoffs start this week, it’s a huge week of college football, and with fewer NFL games to talk about you’ll gradually start hearing more about the NBA and college basketball.

Whatever the topic, it’s best to be armed with a working knowledge of the major storylines. Here are few the know this week.

Making News:

Mike Shanahan

Peyton Manning

Aaron Rodgers

Bowl Games

Andrew Bynum

Why They’re Making News:

The Mike Shanahan saga ends in Washington D.C. Monday morning. After weeks, and some would say months, of tension between Shanahan and owner Daniel Snyder, Shanahan was fired. Washington finished with one of the worst records in football this year at 3-13.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning set a new single season record for passing yards in the regular season finale Sunday. The latest record comes a week after setting the record for most passing touchdowns in a single season. The Broncos also set a record for most team points in a season. They are the #1 seed in the AFC and expect Peyton to earn MVP honors this season.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to the field Sunday and led the Packers to a win against Chicago and locked up a spot in the playoffs. Rodgers missed 7 games after suffering a broken collarbone earlier this season. The Packers host San Francisco in the wild-card round next week.

It’s the best week of the college bowl season. We’re still a week away from the BCS title game, but this week keep an eye on top offenses in Baylor and Ohio State playing in the Fiesta and Orange Bowls respectively and Alabama’s top defense in the Sugar Bowl.

In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers suspended center Andrew Bynum last week for conduct detrimental to the team. The suspension was lifted over the weekend, but he has not rejoined the team. There are reports he simply doesn’t want to play basketball anymore.

Jen Mueller, America’s Expert Talker, is the author of Game Time: Learn to Talk Sports in 5 Minutes a Day for Business. After 13 years in sports broadcasting, Jen wrote the go-to resource for novice and first-time sports fans in the business world. Her step-by-step process makes sports accessible and practical for relationship building in business. The book is available through Amazon.